But the rain hasn't affected one intrepid traveler. That's Zoe Reeve, a British social media influencer who's found a sweet spot in Belize.
She's got 84 thousand followers on Instagram and they've been tagging along as she backpacks through Belize with no real plans, just a. Hunger for adventure and faith in the kindness of others. We spoke to Zoe in Belmopan today where she told us how her carefree approach feels right at home in Belize.
At a time when most 32 year olds are chasing promotions, having kids, getting married, and maybe concocting their next five-year plan, Zoe Reeve packed a bag, saved what she could, and booked a one-way flight to the Caribbean. No itinerary. No guarantees. Just curiosity and courage.
Zoe Reeve, Travel Influencer
"Well, maybe about three and a half years ago, I had a few changes in my life in the UK and decided I didn't really need to stay there for the time being. So I saved up some money from different jobs and I just basically took a one-way flight from the UK. And I've always enjoyed sharing things online, but it was never like a full-time thing for me. So I just decided, well, now I don't have a traditional job, so I have the time to actually do content every day let me just try so I just started posting vlogs on TikTok little photos on Instagram whatever and yeah people just started showing interest in my TikToks so I thought well let me just carry on and see what I can do with."
That one-way flight turned into years of movement and seemingly easy travel as a backpacker. All these trips are documented through TikTok vlogs and Instagram posts.
Not boujee travel ads. Not luxury escapes. Just real life on the road not knowing where she'd sleep. The thing about her content is people watch, not because Zoe had her adventures figured out, but because she didn't. Backpacking is always an adventure, especially when the next town or village is farther than it looked on Google Maps.
Zoe Reeve, Travel Influencer
"In Belize, there's like one town, loads of bush and then like the next town. So sometimes it might take a bit of a long time. And then especially maybe if it's raining and you have all your stuff and you're trying to hitchhike. And, you know, because a lot of the places are a bit remote and sometimes there aren't that many buses, depending where you're going. Or it's maybe just the transport. Like it sometimes isn't the easiest."
Zoe first stumbled upon Belize almost by accident. A cheap flight to Cancun. A dislike for overly touristy cities and one simple question: Where else can I go? But traveling freely, especially as a woman, comes with questions. Is it safe? Is it smart? Is my life worth the risk? Zoe explained that in Belize she doesn't feel much fear:
Zoe Reeve, Travel Influencer
"I mean obviously sometimes in every country there are some men who are like a bit creepy or things like that but that's not any like extra in Belize it's just something that is a part of life as a woman unfortunately in the world but I haven't had any like really scary or bad experiences in belize and the majority of people i've met whether it's hitchhiking whether it's on the street whether it's at a hostel, wherever. Like, the majority of people I've met here have just been, like, normal, you know, just nice and normal. I mean, I try to avoid doing too many things in the dark alone, like, in any country, especially some of the streets in Belize are, like, super dark in the night. So I would, you know, with hitchhiking, I try to more do it, like, in the daytime. I think that's just a sensible thing to do. Anyway, but, yeah, I think Obviously, everyone knows, I suppose, that the higher crime is in Belize City, right? And I've not really spent that much time there, so I can't really speak too much on that. But I think places like Hopkins and PG and stuff, I mean, I'm no expert, but I think it's kind of unlikely that there's going to be a random serial killer."
Belize is beautiful, picturesque and every destination offers something new but for Zoe, she said the South takes the cake as nothing beats that "Southern Hospitality"
Zoe Reeve, Travel Influencer
"If you're someone who likes to experience local cultures and a mix of cultures, because obviously it has, like, Maya, Garifuna, you know, a mix of cultures, and someone who likes nature, and maybe someone who's happy to not always be in, like, a five star resort or whatever then I would definitely say just come and try and see like different areas because I think the different places are so different like if you compare San Ignacio to PG or you know what I mean different areas are so different so I would recommend to like try more than one area to find maybe the one that you really like or you know and I would just recommend to like say yes well not to literally everything but try and say yes to some things when people invite you to a certain event or to try a certain food you know just try and say yes to get those experiences you know."
Courtney Menzies:
"What has been your favorite place?"
Zoe Reeve, Travel Influencer
"Maybe Hopkins maybe San Ignacio. Well, Dangriga was cool but I was only there for a day. I think I like the South."
She like's the south, but is also chasing a greater purpose and choosing experience over fear.
Zoe Reeve, Travel Influencer
"So this tattoo is actually the map coordinates of the farm in Trinidad where I stayed. So that was kind of life changing because then I kept going back to Trinidad. That's a long time ago, that's 10 years ago, right? And so it was pretty life changing that, you know, since then that made me like always come back to Trinidad and then want to see more of the Caribbean and, you know, indirectly that's probably why I'm here today. Do you get what I mean? Because it then shaped the future of my travels and yeah."
A girl, a bag, a dream. She returns to the UK on January 14th with all intentions to return to Belize. Jaleeza Roberts, 7 News.
Zoe has been out of the UK since April of 2025. Tomorrow, she'll tell us how she ended up rapping on the Soca song "No Man No Stress."
